7 essential Android IT tools
I have been using an Android phone for the past several years (since version 2.3.2). It has turned out to be the swiss army knife in my IT toolkit. Here are 7 apps that I cannot live without and help me perform my daily job duties.
ActiveDir Manager
ActiveDir Manager is a $4.99 app that allows you to do 80% of Active Directory management tasks including: changing user passwords, locking/unlocking user accounts, adding users to groups, and editing basic user information. It comes in handy when someone stop you in the hall and mentions their account is locked out. Instead of writing it down in Evernote, then walking to your desk and unlocking the user, you can whip out this app and get it done in under 10 seconds!
WiFi Analyzer
WiFi Analyzer is the most widely used app for wireless network troubleshooting. I have used it to hunt down missing access points, see signal strength in the location I am presently standing, and pick out an open channel for my home network. If this app is not on your phone, you obviously are not a network administrator!
JuiceSSH
JuiceSSH is another neat little app. I use it to manage my fleet of Raspberry PIs that power my campus display TVs and wayfinding signs. The feature that got me most locked into this app is the ability to sync connections and accounts between my old phone and new phone.
Ring Scheduler
Ring Scheduler was developed by the same guy who made WiFi Analyzer. Its purpose is to silence your phone on a schedule. You can also use it to ensure your ringer is on at specific times. For me I use it to silence my phone at 10 pm and re-enable it at 6am.
Microsoft Remote Desktop Client
Microsoft Remote Desktop Client is a perfect app to connect to the GUI of Microsoft servers. Right-clicking is still kind of annoying, but this simple app keeps me from having to install 3rd party software on my servers just for remote desktop access.
ES File Explorer
ES File Explorer is a utility I use to connect to remote network shares as well as navigate and cleanup my android device.
Screebl
Screebl has made my reading more enjoyable. Ever read a news article or book only to have your phone go black in the middle of the good part? Screebl solves that. I have often come to rely so much on Screebl’s function that I find using any device without it to be deemed as a dumb phone (including other android phones).